3 Observations From UNC's Blowout First-Round Win vs. Wagner

No. 1 North Carolina took care of business against No. 16 Wagner, dominating the matchup en route to a 90-62 victory that showcased the Tar Heels' best traits.

Wagner was perhaps the worst team in the NCAA Tournament field, so this result wasn't exactly a surprise. That being said, you can only play the opponents in front of you and North Carolina ensured they'll remain one of the favorites to cut down the nets.

The Tar Heels take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second round on Saturday and need to bring a similar intensity to escape to the Sweet 16. For now, here are three big observations from North Carolina's great first-round win:

3 Observations From UNC's Win vs. Wagner

1. North Carolina Looked Like the Day's Most Dominant Team

While other contenders like Arizona struggled in the first half of their win and Kentucky outright lost, North Carolina was exceptional from start to finish, looking every bit like one of the best teams in the country.

RJ Davis had 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, Armando Bacot added 20 and 15 rebounds, Cormac Ryan scored 13, and overall it was a complete effort that should scare the rest of the NCAA Tournament field.

Defensively, the Tar Heels smothered Wagner's leading scorer, Melvin Council Jr., holding him to 6-of-20 while forcing eight turnovers overall.

North Carolina took a 12-point lead into the break then put their foot on the gas, scoring 50 second-half points with a barrage of three-pointers. For the game, the Tar Heels shot 55% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.

If the Tar Heels play like this offensively moving forward, they'll be nearly impossible to beat given how good the defense is.

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